Conversation naturally turned upon him during
his absence, and Phyllis, as usual, was warm in his praise. One
evening, after she had reached her own room and had lain down to sleep,
a strange apparition surprised her. It was something more than a
suspicion that she herself loved Charles. She strove to rid herself of
this intrusion: she called to mind the difference in their rank; that
she was five years his senior, and that if she yielded she would be
guilty of treachery to Evelina. It was all in vain; the more she
resisted the more vividly did his image present itself, and she was
greatly distressed. What was the meaning of this outbreak of emotion,
not altogether spiritual, of this loss of self-possession, such as she
had never known before? Her usual remedies against evil thoughts failed
her, and, worst of all, there was the constant suggestion that these
particular thoughts were not evil. Hitherto, when temptation had
attacked her, she was sure whence it came, but she was not sure now. It
might be an interposition of Providence, but how would it appear to
Evelina? I myself, my dears, have generally found that to resist the
devil is not difficult if I am quite certain that the creature before me
is the devil, but it does tax my wits sometimes to find out if he is
really the enemy or not.
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